BIOTIC

BIOTIC Species Information for Gobius couchi
All Taxonomy Biology Distribution Reproduction

Researched by	Karen Riley	Data supplied by	MarLIN
Refereed by	Prof. Robert Patzner
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	This species has only been recorded from four locations in the British Isles: Helford in south Cornwall; Bill of Portland, Dorset; Lough Hyne, Co. Cork, Ireland; and Mulroy Bay, Co. Donegal, Ireland.
Global distribution	Couch's goby has recently been recorded at Naples in the western Mediterranean and in the Adriatic Sea.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	0.5 to 16 m
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	Gobius couchi was discovered relatively recently, in 1974, and is considered to be a resident of three locations in the British Isles. However, it was recorded in 1998 in the western Mediterranean (Ischia Island, Naples, Italy) (Stefanni & Mazzoldi, 1999), and, more recently, in the Kvarner region of the Adriatic Sea (Kovacic, 2001) suggesting that the distribution of the species may be wider. Couch's goby occurs in fully saline water. Both Irish localities where the goby is found are sheltered and have reduced tidal ranges (Minchin, 1988). At Lough Hyne and Mulroy bay there are well-established populations. Couch's goby ranges in depth from 0.5 to 16 m at Lough Hyne and 3-14 m depths at Mulroy bay (Minchin, 1987). It tends to be found with stones in shallow water, boulders at greater depths and also with shell debris. Gobius couchi was noted to be the most dominant species present in some areas. Helford is a sheltered, land-locked habitat. In this environment Gobius couchi is normally associated with flat stones or muddy sand with shells and pebbles present (Minchin, 1988). They are also exposed at low water spring tides. Potts & Swaby (1991) observed that the population at this site has diminished over the last 10 years. The salinity preferences of Gobius couchi lie between 25-35 psu.

Substratum preferences	Pebbles Mixed Rockpools Under boulders Maerl Fine clean sand Muddy sand Sandy mud Mud	Physiographic preferences	Open coast Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Sublittoral Fringe	Wave exposure	Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Insufficient information	Salinity	Variable (18-40 psu)
Habitat Preferences Additional Information
Distribution References	Wheeler, 1994, Stefanni & Mazzoldi, 1999, Minchin, 1987, Minchin, 1988, Potts & Swaby, 1991, Eno et al., 1997, JNCC, 1999, NBN, 2002, Kovacic, 2001,